WBCSD in the field with The Forest Dialogue

14 December 2012 | Article

Working with stakeholders from business, research, government, environment and social sectors, The Forests Dialogue (TFD) - an independent, multi-stakeholder dialogue platform and process hosted at Yale University - held its first dialogue in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, considering landscape level public policy, business and biodiversity challenges and solutions.

Supported by the WBCSD Forest Solutions Group, The Forests Dialogue launched its 4Fs initiative looking at land use, fresh water and biodiversity challenges associated with the increasing demand and competition for food, fuel, fiber and resulting impacts on the world’s forests. Working with stakeholders from business, research, government, environment and social sectors, The Forests Dialogue (TFD) - an independent, multi-stakeholder dialogue platform and process hosted at Yale University - held its first dialogue in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, considering landscape level public policy, business and biodiversity challenges and solutions. WBCSD member company Fibria hosted the event which was supported by some 20 international and Brazilian organizations and advocacy groups.

SITE VISITS:
During the first 2 days we visited 4 sites at different scales, with diverse management objectives and levels of intensity – but all producing food, fuel, fiber and supporting livelihoods and all impacting on forests, fresh water and biodiversity

DIALOGUE – key issues:
There were many key issues that emerged during the 2 days of dialogue including, need for land use planning based on more participatory processes seeking integrated production outcomes from available land footprint, improved governance by governments (central, regional and local) and natural resource use decision-making, including licensing/permitting of businesses and land use practices and targeting supply chains managed by global food, fuel and fiber companies that can play a role in improving on-the-ground practices through sourcing and procurement programs that include sustainable production principles, standards and, when appropriate, certification.

NEXT STEPS:
With continued support from WBCSD, The Forest Dialogue is preparing a co-chair summary capturing the key points and learnings for the 2 days of intensive dialoguing and identifies key issues for consideration during the next field dialogue. They are also setting up a 4 Fs partnership covering group representing land use stakeholders – both business and non-business associated with food, fuel and fiber production – to support and take the initiative forward 2013-2015. At this stage partnership participants include the WB, IUCN, WWF, IIED, ICRAF and WBCSD. Local Brazilian stakeholders plan to: Continue the multi-stakeholder dialogue kicked off by TFD focusing on Brazil 4Fs challenges and opportunities and utilize the existing Brazil Forests Dialogue platform – a legacy of earlier TFD initiatives in Brazil which looked at Forests & Biodiversity Conservation (2003/2006) and Intensively Managed Planted Forests (2008)

For more information contact James Griffiths (griffiths@wbcsd.org) or Uta Jungermann (Jungermann@wbcsd.org)